Hampden Park Co-Op

Between this place and Tim and Tom’s, St. Anthony Park has absolutely nailed the adorable, community-driven, grocery vibe. Excellent selection for the size, nice to go items, lovely staff, easy enough parking, and prices are competitive for a co-op. I love that stops at Hampden are a regular part of my week.

Hampden Park Co-op is the best co-op in the Twin Cities. Not only are the prices generally lower than its peers, they also have a bonafide community-forward vibe which is priceless. When I shop at Hampden Park, I know my money is put to good work and I get great food in return.

While visiting someone nearby, I popped in to experience first-hand the local co-op that they speak so highly of. Indeed, it has a vibrant community of local followers as the store was packed! Tucked on the corner of Raymond Ave and Hampden Ave W. in St Paul, it is easy to travel to. Experience the aroma of high-quality fresh vegetables and fruit as you walk into the produce section. To be this fresh, clearly these items are from local growers who stock the store daily. I find items are reasonably priced and many brand selection or flavors that I haven't found elsewhere. Even Keto snack bars are here! Lots of “Top Deals” are offered. Being in route, I was pleasantly surprised to find so many ready-to-eat options: salads, wraps, angel eggs , yummy soups and more. I am a true cheese connoisseur and loved the many options. Look at this – they sell lefse beyond the holiday season. It’s August and I can buy lefse! Now that is a rare find. Past grocery items, they sell cards, sunglasses, Flipside hats, Pranarom Scientific Aromatherapy, U-Konserve items, fun socks and other ideal gift selections. It may be small by some standards but it is has an amazing bulk food section. It offers a unique shopping experience; and the staff is super knowledgeable and helpful. There is ample parking and a picnic table to enjoy your lunch outdoors. I wholeheartedly recommend checking it out in person.

Great reviews. I told ya I! Topical place!!!

Very lovely coop with a friendly staff and management with four homemade delicious soups each day and a hot bar for lunch, M-Fri. Great selection of food for vegan, gluten free and regular diets. This is like an old fashioned grocery store where people know each other. They have bulk food options and sales. Highly recommend!

Great produce, surprisingly wide selection in a small store, lots of dairy free options. I really enjoy shopping here, it's quick and everyone's friendly

They have a great selection of quality food! Everyone is always friendly and helpful and I love seeing what’s new!

A Hidden Gem in the Community! 🌿🥕 I absolutely love shopping at this small grocery co-op! The staff is always friendly and knowledgeable, happy to help you find exactly what you need or suggest something new to try. Their selection of fresh, local produce is unbeatable, and I appreciate their commitment to sustainability. I love the hot soup bar and vegetarian options. The small co-op also fosters a strong sense of community. Shopping here isn't just about groceries; it's about supporting a business that truly cares. Highly recommend! 🌱💚

I love this mini-coop. It has become a staple since I've moved into the St. Anthony Park neighborhood. Their stocked goods are a bit limited because of their size, but I've been pretty satisfied with my daily grocery needs. For a wide variety of items you'd need to go to a bigger coop. I also love their bakery items. The items they make are so buttery and delicious!! The cashiers are very fun and nice. I've enjoyed the bonds I've made with them. The people on the floor seem to be more quiet and reserved. Because of the smallness of the store it can become a bit cramped, but otherwise the layout is nice.!

A cute co-op on Raymond. I popped in looking for a small piece of bread to have with some soup. I found a wonderful scone which was perfect for my soup. This co-op is a bit smaller than others I have been in, but has some great finds. There is a small hot bar, which many people were taking part in the day I happened to stop in. To be honest, if I didn't already have lunch, this would have been appealing. There is also a selection of regular grocery goods that I'm sure is nice for the neighborhood.

This is the smallest co-op in the Twin Cities but the one with the biggest heart. In a very efficient space you can find all of your grocery needs many times with two or three choices. The hot bar for lunch is a highlight as are the freshly made sandwiches made in their kitchen. Their bakery case usually has freshly baked scones and muffins. Fresh coffee is available for purchase at all times. This is a member owned business but it's not necessary that you be a member to shop at the co-op. The staff are experienced and welcoming. Look for the plant sale in May at an event called Mayfest at the co-op.

A lovely neighborhood coop complete with everything you might need. They have a soup bar and hot bar that changes daily, bulk items, excellent produce, teas, coffee and so much more. Friendly service and kind staff. Highly recommend!

Local Fresh Sustainable Friendly... It's a pleasure to shop in a co-op that has such a great vibe! From the ready-to-eat options (yummy soup) to the produce, dairy and frozen items, it is a different shopping experience! I wholeheartedly recommend buying eggs here! You can buy a dozen eggs or you can pick out your own eggs! At $2.89 for a dozen of farm fresh eggs from Elk River that you pick, it is a great deal - AND - the eggs are wonderful tasting!

This is just such a cool space. Really great options for all sorts of cooking/dishes, fun locally made gifts, and an overall great staff and ambience. I love co-ops, and I don't understand why some of these reviews say this place isn't welcoming. The staff here were really friendly to me when I came in for the first time, and although the place is small I think I could've wandered around for hours. They had produce I'd never seen or heard of (I'll try to take some photos to add later), as well as all the essentials. A HUGE coffee collection, all sorts of grains, spices, pre-made dishes and ingredients, sweets, etc. I was really intrigued by their toiletries section, actually, because they had dozens of organic (incredible smelling) soaps, shampoos, and all that jazzzzzzz. Maybe if you're not as easily swooned by earthy, ~hippie-dippy~ places as I am, you'll think this place is overrated. I, for one, think it's an absolute treat. I'll be visiting here often :)

I love Hampden Park Co-Op because it doesn't pretend to be something it's not. It's an "abridged co-op" with the essentials you expect to find at a co-op. All the fresh produce you need for supper plus bulk spices, grains, beans, etc., great quick prepackaged food-to-go options like sandwiches, deli, an assortment of great soups at lunch time, etc. Lots of frozen and pantry items, dairy, as well as a select assortment of health and beauty products. Hampden Park has the exact same store smell and very humble "general store" type of shopping experience that I remember Mississippi Market had back when it was conceived in in the late 1970s on the corner of Pascal St and St. Clair Ave (today that building is home to Artscraps, and childhood co-op nostalgia still floods my senses going there). Eventually I'll cough up the share to get ownership of Hampden since it's my closest neighborhood co-op, and I love the way the store is managed. I think it's a whopping $45 or something. lol And they have a bin where they collect those insidious plastic shopping bags for recycling. No, Eureka won't take them in your street bin!

From what I remember, it was a decent coop until the following occurred: I was reading ingredients in wrapped sandwiches when female Patty["i"] demanded, "empty your pockets." Young male with her THOUGHT he saw me pocketing sandwiches. When pockets revealed tissues, Patty muttered, "oh, sorry," and scampered back to the store's rear. Had I not been stunned, I would have demanded a call to the police. as my attorney suggested after the fact. After such unprofessional, appalling behavior I would have welcomed some coffee, etc. This event happened about ten or so years ago.

I'm going to confess something: I'd never been to a co-op before. I was all freaked out: Am I allowed to shop here? Will they judge me if I get non-organic chips? Will I have to go through some weird checkout process that only members really know about? Will it be awkward? I don't even look like a hippie... Does this make me pretentious? I know. Silly. But still. This happens to be quite close to my work, so one day I ended up hopping down the block a-ways to satisfy a desperate fruit craving. Never fear non-co-op-members. It's okay to shop here. No one is gonna judge you. Everyone at this place is super-nice and they have a great (highly seasonal) stock of fresh fruit. There's no complicated process--just bag your stuff and check out. Just like a normal grocery store (hey, don't judge--I didn't know!). They ask you if you're a member (because there's a discount if you are) but they don't give you the stink-eye if you say no. The best things about Hampden Park Co-Op: --They have fresh soups every day, and every single one I've tried has been delicious. Seriously delicious. --Decent selection of fresh produce. --AMAZING local fresh-daily baked-goodies. --Highly addictive, local, fresh-weekly caramels and chocolates plus a lot of other packaged chocolate varieties. The mixed-bag things: --The store is small so selection isn't super-duper great. --Produce is highly seasonal, so it's not extensive. However, this could be considered a good thing since they only stock what's actually, you know, good-tasting at the time.

Phenomenal customer service and great selection in a small, neighborhood co op. The deli items are always top notch, the soups are absolutely perfect, and the bakery items are wonderfully unique. I especially recommend the cardamom cookies. The produce selection is robust without being overwhelming. I appreciate the specialty varieties of fruits. All in all, while I love co op shopping everywhere, this is my favorite one, and I don't even live in the neighborhood. Highly recommend.

I really love my neighborhood co-op! It is an absolute gem to have in our neighborhood and to be able to walk there and pick up some fresh produce or some organic ground beef or any of their wonderful deli items is an absolute treasure to have in our neighborhood. Thanks for being there and long may you reign!

When I couldn't find an item, each staff was called up until it was located. Awesome service. We'd gone out, my son and I, and were unlocking the bikes when a man ran out to give is an item which must have dropped in the store, attesting a loving community.

Stepping into this co-op was like stepping back in time. When I was in high school, the co-op in Duluth, MN felt a lot like this place- totally packed to the gills, disorganized, full of little quirky objects and foodstuffs, staffed by cheery people, and expensive as hell. Since then many co-ops have kicked up their game and become powerhouses of organic produce and natural products, but this little one remains chugging along behind. It's totally dear and if it were in my neighborhood, I'd be glad it's there, but it's not somewhere I'd go out of my way to hit. Its bread selection was pretty good- a nice combination of Great Harvest and Solomon Bakery offerings. I picked up a dozen potato rosemary rolls by Solomon- at $3.50 a half dozen, they were totally affordable and pillowy and fragrant. Also had a cardamon vanilla cookie that was legit but unremarkable. Otherwise their stock was pretty expensive. $9 jars of peanut butter- yow. Turns out this co-op is run the old-fashioned way: by volunteers in the neighborhood. That being true, the volunteer behind the register was freaking adorable and super kind. NOTE: Members of other Twin Cities co-ops (Wedge, Seward) do not get a discount here, but they'll give you a smile and an upraised fist and a "thank you for your solidarity" instead. Righteous.

Hampden is one of the best kept secrets of Minneapolis. I strongly disagree with reviewers who said this place was overpriced. I found products such as homemade ravioli, pasta sauce, local produce, granola, and bread at prices that were most assuredly cheaper than Seward. If you want a ton of selection, and if you are willing to pay a premium for perfect veggies and your exact brand of tofu, then this place isn't for you. But if you are on a budget, want wholesome, consciously grown food, and love quirky adorableness, then you should definitely patronize Hampden.

This place is so teeny for a grocery....but great. It feels like a real co-op, with a sign-up for people to work shifts, and lots of interesting folks to people watch. My husband and I are beginning the Mayo Diet, which calls for lots of fruits and veggies. Initially, we were planning the Farmer's Market, but it was raining like crazy...so after some house hunting...here we be. First of all, I love St. Anthony Park, and this is just another thing to love. Got some great produce, lots of locally produced cheese...and got out of there with two bags for forty bucks. You get what you pay for....(sometimes!) This was one of those times. Our fridge looks so healthy and yuppie I should take a picture and put it on Flickr...

I'm not a member at this co-op, but it's on my way home so I'm here often. I love that I can pop in and out in a matter of minutes, that they have a parking lot, and that they have almost anything I want out of a grocery store. Recently renovated, this small but mighty co-op has a bulk section (including a wonderful coffee selection), fresh produce (often cheaper here than at neighboring co-ops), pantry staples, fresh breads, grab & go items, and even novelty items like vegan cream cheese. The cashiers are always wonderful and friendly, as are the patrons. I'm happy to support this local establishment!

This a cute, grassroots neighborhood co-op. I haven't ever shopped here, but have visited a few times because a friend regular shops here. For its size, selection seems good and prices aren't horrible. Sometimes a bit more expensive than larger co-ops, but I feel many would be okay paying the extra for the feel of community it offers. They have a great selection of coffee - if you stop here, be sure to check out the coffee.

I was feeling very lost in grocery-world of the TC until I decided to follow in my aunt and uncle's footsteps and start frequenting the HPC. As college students, they loved the cheese packaging shift of the HPC volunteer schedule. In a short time, volunteering and shopping here has changed my opinion on food and co-ops. It's not snooty, it's not easy, it's an experience. If you're new here, allow yourself time to browse the store & check out the merchandise, ask about the PLU system, the bulk items, and come with a calm mind. Ask any staff to help you find an item. My favorite thing about this place is that it forces you to speak to people in the aisles (excuse me, excuse me) and that people of all ages work and volunteer here. I no longer care that I can't get everything I used to buy at other stores; here, I've tried many new things and better appreciate many more. Shopping anywhere else just feels like a farce.

I love my co-op! Don't yet the small size fool you - there are a LOT of products packed into the space. One of the highlights is the homemade soup selection - call or check the website to find out what's being offered, and then race over before your favorite is all gone. The bulk selection is also fantastic.

Such a great co-op! They have a nicely-sized bulk section, good coffee selection, an isle of chocolate, beautiful seasonal produce, a daily soup bar with the most amazing soups, and the list goes on... A lifetime co-op membership is only $30 per household. There are many opportunities to volunteer and thus receive a deeper discount on your purchases. With the membership you receive a quarterly discount of 10%. The volunteers and paid employees were all kind and helpful. It seems like volunteering here would be a great way to make friends. On our visit I got a 16oz container of potato leek soup and it was sooooo good. I highly recommend their soups. The soups are $2 for an 8oz container and $3.50 for a 16 oz container. Very worth it. The only draw back to this co-op is that there isn't any seating for eating before you leave. As this was my first time there, I asked a cashier if there was any seating. She said no but she was incredibly hospitable and pulled up some stools to a work table so that my husband and I could eat. Really awesome service. I hope to join and volunteer soon!

This is my very favorite co-op in the metro. The Wedge and Seward may be larger and flashier but Hampden trumps them by stocking every imaginable ingredient at incredibly competitive prices and in bulk to boot! It's truly a treasure trove in there. Items that are hard to find as bulk but are stocked here include almond paste, tomato powder, #1 bulgur (most places just stock coarse ground), unbleached pastry flour, hi-gluten flour, champagne vinegar, farro, molasses (not just blackstrap, though they have that too). Plus they are a working co-op. I love this place.

A good example of why some people hate coops. Service is pretty unprofessional and sometime baffling during a rush. But there is a good selection of stuff given the size.

Overpriced. Mostly packaged items and frozen goods. Instead of trying to have a bit of everything they really need to focus on providing select items. Good if you live in the neighborhood but can't compete with Seward, Longfellow, or Mississippi Market.

Hippie passive aggression at it's best. Throw away your understanding of the rules of grocery shopping. E.g., Be prepared to write down the per unit cost on produce or be ridiculed by the volunteer clerk behind the register. There are a suite of quirky rules like this that have led me to visit this place every year and half (about the length of my ability to forget what an awkward experience it provides).

Hampden Park recently expanded and took over the storefront next door. Looks great and is still charming and intimate!

I'm a bit biased about Hampden Park Co-op as I've been a working member there for 10 years. I think the thing about co-ops is that they all have their quirks and personalities. I get where sarah T is coming from about the cashiers and the memorizing PLUs and prices. I had come to HPC as a long-time member of North Country and they did things quite a bit differently. I remember it took a long time to learn the ropes. It is worth it to take the trouble. HPC is really the last co-op in the cities with working members. That accounts for the sometimes spaciness of the cashiers and the fact that they may seem more expensive compared to other co-ops, since the non-members subsidize the membership somewhat. We shop at co-ops because we can get our basic ingredients (produce, bread, pasta) far more cheaply than we can at Whole Foods or L&B store when you have a working member discount. For working 3 hours a week we get 15% off every thing we buy. That really adds up. Co-ops in general are great because shopping at Cub/Rainbow is a soul-sucking experience. I like the principals on which co-ops are founded and I think buying local and organic is a good idea. HPC just feels like home to me. When we travel we are always on the look-out for co-ops around the country because they tend to carry similar stuff as we are used to and because they all have their own quirky, fun personalities. You just have to bear with them a bit.

Have not been there recently. Shop the Mississippi Market. I was just interested because I used to live at 904 Raymond on that block and was one of the folks who started the co-op. We called it the Green Grass Grocery in those days.